Information for applicants

Our scholarships are open to all subject areas and to all candidates who apply for a new Master's or DPhil course by the December or January admissions deadline, whichever is relevant to your course.

Graduate application deadline

By applying for graduate study you will automatically be considered for a Clarendon scholarship. You do not need to submit any additional documents and there are no separate scholarship application forms for Clarendon. You must apply by the December or January admissions deadline, whichever is relevant to your course in order to be considered. Deadline information is available on the graduate course pages.

Value

Clarendon scholarships cover course fees in full.  This applies to Home and Overseas fee status students.

Scholars on a full-time course will receive an annual grant for living expenses of at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate, which is normally sufficient to cover the living costs of a single student living in Oxford. In 2025-26, scholars receive at least £20,780.

Scholars on a part-time course will receive a study support grant to assist with non-fee costs. Study support grants vary in value – they may be a sixth, a third or half of the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate. The amount of the grant is influenced by the nature and/or duration of the course. A scholar's offer letter will provide details of the study support grant. The study support grant may be slightly reduced where course fees cover some other study costs, for example, accommodation while on a period of residential study. We liaise with academic departments to determine the value of the study support grant in these cases.

Duration

Clarendon scholarships are normally offered for a scholar's period of fee liability, with the exception of modular fee structure courses (see below). This is the period for which you are liable to pay course fees to the University. The fee liability page explains this in full, and also gives information about charges that may be applied after this period, known as continuation charges, which are not covered by the Clarendon Fund.

At the discretion of the academic divisions, some Clarendon scholarships cover an additional period of study beyond the duration of fee liability. Only a grant for living expenses is paid during that additional period; continuation charges are not paid by the Clarendon Fund. Scholars are notified in their offer letters of the exact duration of their scholarships.

Modular fee structure courses

For part-time courses with a modular fee structure, where the course does not have a fixed number of terms of fee liability, the scholarship will cover those academic fees which are compulsory for your course of study. Depending on the course structure these may include:

1. An Annual Award Fee – this will be paid for a maximum of two years.
2. A Registration Fee – this will be paid in full.
3. A Dissertation Fee – this will be paid in full.
4. Module Fees – your scholarship will pay for the minimum number of modules required to complete your course, but will not pay for any additional modules which you take voluntarily.

In the event of any other compulsory academic fees, we will liaise with your academic department to determine if they should be funded by your scholarship.

Nationality or ordinary residence

There are no restrictions by nationality or country of ordinary residence.

Clarendon scholars come from across the world: from the USA to Australia, Venezuela to Vietnam and from Norway to Nigeria.

Level of study

All full-time DPhil and Master’s courses are eligible, as long as you have applied by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant for your course. A list of all the graduate courses offered by the University of Oxford can be found on the graduate courses page.

Subject area

Clarendon supports scholars from across the University, with no restrictions on subject area.

Other criteria

Candidates applying to start a new DPhil or Master’s course at Oxford are eligible. This includes students who are currently studying for a Master's degree at Oxford but who will be re-applying for a DPhil or applying for a second Master’s course.

Deferred offers or current students

Applicants who hold a deferred graduate offer are not eligible to be considered for this scholarship.

Current students who will continue to study for the same degree at Oxford in the next year are not eligible for this scholarship.

Selection criteria vary slightly depending on the subject area and whether applicants apply for a taught or research degree.

As a guideline, applications are assessed against the following criteria:

Outstanding academic record

An excellent academic record is essential. The majority of successful scholars usually have at least a first class honours degree or its equivalent. For example a GPA score of at least 3.7, if the mark if out of 4, noting that a lot of the Clarendon scholars achieve higher than this score. Or an applicant must have an outstanding academic record at Master’s level, noting that an exceptional Master’s degree can compensate for a moderate first degree performance. Requirements may vary between disciplines and from year to year depending on the strength of the field. Other evidence of high academic achievement may include individual marks on student transcripts; evidence of previous university prizes or awards; information on your overall position within your cohort; and publications (if applicable).

Future potential and aptitude

Particular consideration is given to an applicant’s future academic potential and aptitude of the proposed course of study. This may be assessed by reviewing references and research proposals to determine evidence of an applicant’s aptitude for research, and the likelihood of contributing significantly to the field of study.

Student motivation

This is assessed through evidence of the applicant’s commitment to the proposed course as well as evaluation of the personal statement and the referees’ reports.

When selecting Clarendon scholars, the University has only one goal in mind: to choose the best students worldwide, as decided by experts in each student’s field.

Scholarship application process

1. Apply to your course by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant to your course, to be considered for a Clarendon scholarship. There is no scholarship application - all applicants to degree-bearing courses are considered.
2. Your application to your course will be considered by the academics working in your proposed field of study. They will assess the academic quality and suitability of your application.
3. The department will make the final decision on your graduate place and will notify you with an outcome. See decision timeline for more details.
4. In parallel, academics within your department will determine who to nominate to the division for a Clarendon scholarship based on the selection criteria.

Divisional allocation of Clarendon scholarships

5. The process varies between the University’s academic divisions and the Department for Continuing Education, but each meet in February or March to review the departmental scholarship nominations.
6. The academic divisions assess the nominations on their academic merit and future potential and the top ranked departmental nominees within the division are shortlisted for Clarendon.
7. Once the shortlist is confirmed, the Clarendon Fund Administrator will contact successful applicants and will provide the scholarship offer letter (aka a 'CB1').
8. If you are offered (and accept) a Clarendon scholarship, this means your funding is now secure, as long as you meet the conditions of your offer of a place to study at Oxford.
9. Starting in April and running into the summer months, bespoke Clarendon funding packages are put together. This involves matching Partnership Awards to scholars, a complex process given the varying award requirements. It takes time; but no further information is required of Clarendon offer holders at this stage.
10. Once each scholar’s bespoke funding package is confirmed, they will receive the funding breakdown letter (aka a 'CB2') outlining the funding arrangements. Final college placements will also be confirmed alongside partnership awards.

Notification of Clarendon scholarship decisions

11. All successful Clarendon candidates will be contacted via email. Most initial offers (CB1s) are sent out by the end of April of each year.
12. Due to the number of eligible applicants, unsuccessful students will not be contacted. If you have not heard from us by mid-June, please assume that unfortunately you have not been awarded a Clarendon scholarship.
13. A few late nominations may take place during the summer period if nominated students withdraw